Congress president Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi paid tributes to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 28th death anniversary at his memorial, Veer Bhumi in Delhi.

Besides the Gandhi family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and former President Pranab Mukherjee were among several political leaders to pay homage to Rajiv Gandhi.

Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee were also present at Veer Bhumi.

PM Modi who has been constantly criticising Rajiv Gandhi over 1984 anti-Sikh riots during election campaigns tweeted, “Tributes to former PM Shri Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary.”

Rahul Gandhi tweeted early in day saying his father taught him “never to hate”.

“My father was gentle, loving, kind & affectionate. He taught me to love & respect all beings. To never hate. To forgive. I miss him. On his death anniversary, I remember my father with love & gratitude.”

My father was gentle, loving, kind & affectionate. He taught me to love & respect all beings. To never hate. To forgive.

Remembering her father, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra shared the poem “Agneepath”, by noted Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, on Twitter in a post titled: “You will always be my hero”. The post also has an old picture of a younger Priyanka with her father.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also remembered the late leader, saying: “Solemnly and very fondly remembering former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary.”

Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda, in a series of tweets, said: “Today is the day to pay respect to this great leader who dreamed of India in the 21st century and at the same time reflect on his contribution to India.”

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by a female LTTE suicide bomber, who greeted him at a rally in Tamil Nadu’s Sriperumbudur town with a bomb strapped to her chest.

He served as the sixth Prime Minister of India from 1984 to 1989. He took office after the 1984 assassination of his mother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, becoming the country’s youngest Prime Minister at age 40.